I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 121

Even with Father and Yohan guarding my side, glaring daggers at anyone who approached, the border wizards kept trying to come closer.

 

If this were just a bunch of young people, I would have at least made an excuse to avoid it, but the problem was that people of all ages and genders were sneaking up on me and talking to me.

 

“Wow, isn’t this incredible?”

 

And looking at that sight, the nobles of the central social circles were clicking their tongues.

 

“It’s truly amazing. I guess Duke Oscar Medes must have been a bit taken aback. After all, he’s been away from home for so long…..”

 

“Or maybe he’s just indulging the Duchess’s wishes. He dotes on his family to an absurd degree, after all.”

 

Just look at that social maneuvering… Since she’s infamous in the capital, it seems she’s decided to win popularity out on the frontier instead, huh?”

 

I didn’t really need to be popular, so it was really frustrating.

 

Especially since there was one group that had started steering public opinion at lightning speed.

 

‘This time too….’

 

It was the group of Marquis Ella and her daughter.

 

Seizing the opportunity, they were enthusiastically tearing me down.

 

It seemed they were still holding a grudge over the blow I’d dealt them at the victory banquet last time.

 

‘Honestly, they never learn.’

 

I sighed and crossed my arms.

 

‘They got in trouble for doing that last time too.….’

 

At the time, I wasn’t too offended by the thought of taking advantage of it, but now I feel a little bad.

 

“Anyway, she is not pretending to be real for nothing. But aren’t the Medes family really such fools? If you dote on a fake long enough, does it turn into the real one?”

 

Ella, in particular, was having the time of her life gossiping.

 

“I heard it from a servant who quit—apparently she really acts like a genuine young lady. I mean, she already turned the household upside down once with that fake-daughter incident, and now she has the nerve to act so brazen… I hear she’s even claiming she’s the real one these days?”

 

“Yes, apparently Lady Mariel herself said so. That the current Yurika feels real. Seriously—how on earth did she sweet-talk her into that?”

 

‘No, is it my fault that the house was turned upside down? And why do you refuse to believe Meriel, yet have no doubt that I must have manipulated her?’

 

I bit my lower lip lightly. I felt like I couldn’t stand to watch any longer.

 

“What is it, Yurika?”

 

Yohan whispered softly beside me.

 

“Want to slap them? I’ll cheer you on.”

 

It seems like he noticed my unusual expression.

 

“What are you talking about? There’s no need to play the villain anymore.”

 

I replied with a snicker.

 

“Starting today, I’ll make sure they never get to have these pointless conversations again.”

 

It was then. The bell placed atop the temple rang softly. The nobles who had been gathered in small groups, chatting, fell silent.

 

In the distance, a thirteen-year-old boy who was to be appointed as the new High Priest walked in.

 

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the small boy.

 

Despite being destined to become a high priest, he was accompanied by imperial knights, not paladins, on both sides.

 

The wizards of the borderlands, unfazed by the situation in the capital, were in an uproar.

 

“Looks like they’re starting with the High Priest appointment ceremony.” I muttered cautiously.

 

The boy who would soon become High Priest was visibly intimidated.

 

“I see that the Emperor has resorted to some rather petty tactics.”

 

It was a place where all the wizards and high-ranking nobles gathered.

 

Since the entire event held at the temple was hosted by the imperial family, it seemed clear what they were aiming for.

 

Of course, we were planning to turn that intention against him.

 

“Okay, then for now.”

 

Father spoke slowly.

 

“Once that kid’s appointed High Priest, we’ll secure the holy water first.”

 

Holy water was not something special, it was just water blessed by the High Priest.

 

The key issue was that it had to be obtained within the temple grounds.

 

And now, every condition has been met.

 

After a few words of the Emperor’s address, the boy stepped up to the altar.

 

Following the rather humiliating declaration that he was the first High Priest acknowledged by the Emperor rather than the temple itself, light poured down upon the boy standing there.

 

Gasps escaped from the nobles, many of whom were witnessing a secret temple ceremony for the first time.

 

It was the birth of a new High Priest—and the first major event marking the day.

 

* * *

 

Rivena stood beside Theodore, slowly swirling her champagne glass as she took a deep breath.

 

She had staked everything on today.

 

Returning to the temple again left her feeling deeply unsettled.

 

Rivena always loved the quiet and refined atmosphere of the temple.

 

Ethics, morality—none of that mattered to her. What mattered was having an environment where she could focus solely on her research.

 

She also liked Patre, who had always supported and believed in her.

 

She wasn’t a fool; she knew Patre was using her.

 

Even so, there had been a sense of comradeship between them—they were already in the same boat.

 

It was nothing like Theodore, who stood beside her now, lost in his own thoughts.

 

But now, in that once quiet temple, nobles were bustling about and socializing.

 

In the seat of the High Priest sat a trembling child, thoroughly steeped in imperial influence.

 

To Rivena, it felt as though her very home had been trampled.

 

‘I have to succeed… no matter what it takes.’

 

Rivena thought, glancing at Yurika, who was surrounded by wizards from the border.

 

‘I have to turn back time somehow. I must brainwash her—make sure she never becomes human again.’

 

It was Rivena’s plan to gather all the wizards together.

 

At this moment, the person in the world who knew the most about divine beasts was Rivena.

 

Any wizard with a significant amount of magical power would instinctively be drawn to Yurika.

 

There simply hadn’t been many such wizards in the capital before—so Yurika wouldn’t have known.

 

Neither would Yohan Hyrad.

 

‘So? How does it feel?’

 

As expected, Yohan’s expression was not good as he watched the people who kept clinging to Yurika.

 

‘Hard to endure, isn’t it? With that possessiveness of yours?’

 

Yohan’s father—the previous Duke Hyrad—had imprisoned Yohan’s mother simply because she once shared tea with another man… and in the end, it had led to her death.

 

Yohan’s mother hadn’t even been a divine beast.

 

So, even if he doesn’t show it, Yohan’s heart must be rotting away.

 

The temple was full of young men openly glancing at Yurika.

 

‘It must’ve been uncomfortable for them too, being forced to attend such a suddenly arranged ceremony…’

 

While Rivena was lost in thought, the appointment of the High Priest was completed.

 

The position was bestowed upon a small boy named Ian.

 

Following due process, the child was imbued with the divine power of the crescent-shaped statue, the temple’s symbol.

 

The crowd cheered.

 

‘I guess he had no choice but to come.’

 

Rivena glanced at Oscar.

 

Another Medes she had studied for a long time.

 

Just then, the Emperor spoke in a gentle voice.

 

“Now, next in line, I will officially declare the return of Duke Medes.”

 

Placing Oscar’s return as the second event was clearly intentional on the Emperor’s part.

 

After drawing maximum attention with the first ceremony, he planned to bury it quickly under the next spectacle and let it fade from public discussion.

 

The emperor smiled benevolently as he watched Oscar slowly ascend the podium.

 

“I’ve heard you have no memory of the battlefield, but even so, thank you for returning safely to our side.”

 

It was a rather short congratulatory remark. Still, Oscar didn’t show much disappointment and responded heartily.

 

“Thank you for welcoming me, Your Majesty.”

 

Oscar’s return was greeted with applause from many nobles, including his family, who had accompanied him.

 

Mariel, who was by Roymond’s side, even shed tears once again.

 

“But there is one thing I need to correct.”

 

Oscar said calmly.

 

“My memories of the battlefield are gradually returning.”

 

He immediately turned his gaze to Rivena.

 

Rivena flinched for a moment and trembled.

 

‘That can’t be… He couldn’t possibly remember. When he was a beast, he would’ve been completely unconscious…’

 

She quickly composed herself and controlled her expression.

 

‘There’s no way he remembers. He must’ve heard something from Yurika and is just putting on airs.’

 

While Rivena looked at Oscar anxiously, the Emperor continued the conversation slyly.

 

“Oh? Is that so? That’s certainly something to celebrate. Your family must have suffered greatly all this time. If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to say so. If this is a lingering effect of the war, the imperial family will offer as much support as possible.”

 

“Yes, thank you very much. Which brings me to my request…”

 

Oscar looked straight at the Emperor and said.

 

“May I ask the High Priest for some holy water?”

 

Rivena swallowed dryly.

 

Those who didn’t know the situation wouldn’t understand, but Oscar was now declaring a head-on confrontation.

 

‘But at this moment, without any evidence?’

 

As Rivena held her breath, Oscar continued speaking.

 

“It seems that my disappearance, my wife’s madness, and my second daughter’s disappearance are all related to the temple.”

 

* * *